Written question asked by Claire Curtis-Thomas (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 March 2009. It was answered by Caroline Flint (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 March 2009 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Politics and Government

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and what recent discussions on the matter have taken place at EU level.

Answer: The Government remain concerned about the current situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and endorse the conclusions of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC) Steering Board meeting on 25/26 March 2009. Despite some progress in addressing the conditionality for closure of the Office of the High Representative (OHR), the PIC Steering Board expressed concern about political developments in BiH since it last convened in November 2008. I will place a copy of the PIC communiqué in the House Library.The current political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 16 March 2009, which called upon BiH political leaders to engage with stronger determination on the reform agenda and to refrain from nationalist rhetoric. I will place a copy of the relevant General Affairs and External Relations Council conclusions in the House Library.EU Foreign Ministers also discussed BiH, as part of a broader discussion of the western Balkans, at their informal Gymnich meeting on 28 March 2009.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 490 c1114-5W;490 c1110-1W; 266824
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2009-1601
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Deposited papers
House of Commons
Subjects: Politics and government Bosnia and Herzegovina
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk